WHERE THE CHILLY WIND DOES BLOW

As the car was getting serviced at Toyota dealer this morning, I birded the open space across Doran Street. A small marsh at the bottom of the slope sits on the edge of the North Yamhill River flood plain. And as I walked past it both a Killdeer and a Wilson’s Snipe took flight. The temperature was just above freezing so there was little other bird action. Two Scrub-Jays loudly objected to my pishing, one Song Sparrow made a few noises and a lone Raven soared past.

This afternoon a storm front moved in. The chilling wind had the steely sharp feel of what we now expect from an executive order. Its immediate sensation is unpleasant and it’s a harbinger of harsher things to come. Even the Kestrels hunting from roadside wires huddled against the cold.

Theoretically these ducks on the Carlton Sewer Ponds are safe from hunters. But they are knowingly sensitive about any barrel pointed their way even if it is just a pair of binoculars. Besides they did cross the American border without being vetted so they have yet another reason to be skittish.These are Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead off to furthest end of the ponds.One of the Flickers at Wennerberg Park:Doran Drive NE, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Feb 2, 2017 8:35 AM – 9:00 AM. 5 species